The twelve (12) day countdown to Christmas is on and in true Saint Lucian traditional spirit, the Festival of Light Ceremony takes place today Monday December 12th, 2016. This year’s extravaganza is set for the Derek Walcott Square from 7:30 p.m. Under the distinguished patronage of Her Excellency Dame Pearlette Louisy, the Cultural Development Foundation (CDF) in association with the Castries Constituency Council (CCC) invites the public to experience the 2016 edition of the Festival of Light, themed “Celebrating Light, Celebrating Jesus”.
Lantern bearers, fire eaters, stilt walkers and drummers will lead a parade from the Castries Town Hall at 7:30pm. into the Derek Walcott Square. Brief remarks from government officials will commence the evening’s activity. Performances from dancers, including the Saint Lucia School of Ballet, the CAM Dancers and the Avad Dance Troup, film makers as well as musicians, Michael Robinson, Ras Africa, TC Brown and the Royal Saint Lucia Police Band are scheduled to make appearances as part of the night’s Christmas production, “Christ is the Light”. Saint Lucia’s Prime Minister, Honourable Allen Chastanet along with National Carnival Queen, Miss Tyla Theophane will top off the night’s activities by switching on the lights which will be followed by a fire works display.
The Festival of Light Ceremony is an innovative spectacle of lights in the city centre accompanied by the Parade of lanterns. It forms part of the December Festivals which is a series of three (3) festivals (The Lantern Festival, Festival of Carols and Festival of Light) which celebrates the spirit of light through artistic creativity. Saint Lucia’s Day or Saint Lucy’s Day; the feast day of the patron saint of light, is celebrated on December 13th. Her feast once coincided with the shortest day of the year before calendar reforms, so that the feast day was considered a festival of light; “a beacon of brightness” in the darkest time of year.
